Anti-Sikh riots: Tytler gets bail in defamation case

New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) Controversial Congress leader Jagdish Tytler was Saturday given bail by a Delhi court for allegedly making derogatory remarks against the lawyer of the victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Tytler, who was recently in the middle of a controversy over a clean chit given to him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, was asked by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ajay Panday to furnish a personal as well as a surety bond of Rs.50,000 each as pre-condition for his release on bail.

Tytler initially tried to avoid waiting media persons but on being consistently asked for his reactions over recent developments, which cost him his Lok Sabha nomination, the former union minister blamed the media for his woes.

Harvinder Singh Phoolka, a senior advocate, who has filed the case against Tytler for his alleged defamatory remarks in TV programmes in 2004, said: “This is a moral victory for me as we have succeeded in making the leader appear in the court.”

Phoolka has been spearheadeding a legal battle on behalf of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims.

Tytler filed an application through his counsel R.K. Wadhwa seeking permanent exemption from personal appearance before the court in future proceedings.

Phoolka’s lawyer Kamna Vohra opposed Tytler’s plea.

“The matter has been transferred from a Ludhiana court to the capital on the request of Tytler himself. Now he cannot seek exemption from appearance,” Vohra submitted.

The court allowed Tytler not to appear till his plea seeking permanent exemption was decided. The matter was posted for May 23 for arguments on his application.

Phoolka had in 2004 filed the case at the Ludhiana court against Tytler accusing him of making defamatory remarks in programmes telecast on NDTV news channel on Sep 7 that year.